Music review: Eric Clapton – ‘I Still Do’
I stop and take notice every time Eric Clapton releases a new album. Clapton鈥檚 musical genius has been comfortably woven into my love of music since the day I stumbled upon my brother鈥檚 copy of Cream鈥檚 鈥淒israeli Gears.鈥�
After playing memorable cuts like 鈥淪trange Brew,鈥� 鈥淪unshine of Your Love鈥� and 鈥淭ales of Brave Ulysses鈥� over and over until the turntable needle wore out, I began to dig deeper into my brother鈥檚 extensive music catalog to find albums from the Yardbirds and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, featuring the magic of Clapton. Later, I would discover the passion of Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos before following the guitar legend鈥檚 solo career.
In 2014, Eric Clapton gathered up a few special friends such as Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Derek Trucks and John Mayer to pay tribute to J.J. Cale on the engaging 鈥淭he Breeze: An Appreciation of J.J. Cale.鈥�
For his 23rd studio effort, Clapton returns with his distinctive interpretations of blues numbers from artists such as Cale, Bob Dylan, Skip James and Robert Johnson as well as a few original tracks penned by the three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Clapton is once again reunited with Glyn Johns, who handled the production duties on 1977鈥檚 鈥淪lowhand.鈥� While nearly everyone I went to high school with owned a copy of this classic album, I personally consider Clapton鈥檚 1978 鈥淏ackless鈥� release that contained 鈥淲atch Out for Lucy,鈥� 鈥淭ell Me That You Love Me,鈥� 鈥淧romises鈥� and 鈥淭ulsa Time鈥� as my all-time favorite Clapton offering.
鈥淚 Still Do鈥� proves that the 71-year-old guitar legend still does know a thing or two about the blues. Johns masterfully captures the sincerity and spontaneity of the arrangements by allowing Clapton and his band to deliver the vibe of a live performance during the studio sessions.
The 12-track set opens with a rousing version of Leroy Carr鈥檚 鈥淎labama Woman Blues鈥� and is followed by the soulful 鈥淐an鈥檛 Let You Do It.鈥�
The fiery blues tracks 鈥淐ypress Grove鈥� and 鈥淪tones in My Passway鈥� give listeners plenty of reasons to handclap and foot tap.
Dylan鈥檚 鈥淚 Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine鈥� is lovingly caressed by Clapton, while 鈥淚鈥檒l Be Alright鈥� carries a gospel flavoring that is comforting and reassuring.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know how much it means to have this music in me,鈥� announces Clapton on the original track 鈥淪piral,鈥� reinforcing his passion for the music he creates and plays.
With his latest effort, it鈥檚 perfectly clear that one of music鈥檚 most influential guitar players still appreciates performing the music he genuinely loves.